French connects with Renault Fluence

The French are a crafty lot. In a market dominated by popular Asian and formidable European manufacturers, Renault SA knew that to make an impact on the Indian mind, it would have to pull out something special.
 
Renault always knew it had a card - well, an engine to be correct (the K9K diesel unit) — up its sleeve, but for some reason or the other, it wasn’t there on the Fluence launched in May last year.
 
The French carmaker also did something unusual - it priced the diesel version cheaper than the petrol variant when everybody else was doing the opposite.
 
The first Fluence diesel, or E2, was bareboned to keep it in affordable territory, yet was stylish. Then came an upgrade, called E4, two months back (DNA Drive reviewed it last month), which offered much improvement in terms of engine performance and interiors.

 Now comes the Fluence Diesel E4D.

That makes it three variants in under a year, and shows Renault is learning fast.
 
The main change in the latest variant is the new-generation K9K diesel engine which has had its power upped to 110Ps, while the torque output remains the same at 240Nm; the way the engine delivers that torque has also been tweaked.

 What this means is the car is now more responsive to sudden demands in heavy traffic conditions.
 
As Marc Nassif, managing director of Renault India, pointed out simply, “The difference is seen when one floors the accelerator.” Indeed, Nassif.
 
At the same time, Renault says the new 1.5 dCi engine will give the Fluence a fuel efficiency of 20.4 kmpl (Arai figure). With a fuel tank capacity of 60 litres, that give the Fluence a theoretical range of 1,224km on a single tankful.

 Exterior
 In terms of looks, there is no doubt the Fluence is a saloon unlike any other in terms of drop-dead looks. Sure, some people point out similarities with the Fiat Linea — maybe because both French and Italian auto designers have a bias for flair and stylishness.
 
Look at it from any angle and you KNOW this car is not your run-of-the-mill, boxy, series-produced vehicle. The Fluence seems a little bigger than it actually is and yet, is proportioned in a way that it all fits, from the tail lights to the headlights as well as the grille and the lines of the bonnet. One of the benefits of having that sweeping long tail, apart from making the Fluence look good from the rear, is that comforting bootspace of 530 litres.

Interior
Inside, there is little to complain about any longer. The cabin space is ample and the premium upholstery adds to the feeling of luxuriousness. The instrument cluster is certainly unique. Yet, given the car’s price tag and the fact that it is the top of the line version, one does feel it could have perhaps been a little better kitted out.

The driver’s seat, for example, could have been electrically powered and adjustable while the lack of a sunroof, which seems de rigueur in other luxury car variants, stood out. There are a lot of good features that come as standard on this car, however — like the automatic dual-zone air conditioning and climate control systems with separate vents for the rear seats as well as the practical goodies like rain and light sensors, rear parking sensors, smart access card entry, engine start-stop button (though I’m not sure locating it on the centre console is the best place for it),  electric folding door mirrors, a four-speaker music system with USB, AUX-IN and Bluetooth connectivity and the sun blinds.

The middle seat in the rear, however, is distinctly uncomfortable with its flattish butt and back areas. Some squabs and sponge/fibre adjustments, or better designing, will make it much more comfortable for the fifth horseman.

Performance
As mentioned in the beginning, the new Fluence is mostly about the new engine - it has a new variable geometric turbo, which, having low inertia, means it is quick to respond to the accelerator.

The car feels mildly sluggish but cross 2000 rpm and as the turbo kicks in, it is very quick indeed. It handles well, as one discovered on the twisty bits of the East Coast Road (ECR) in Chennai, especially the winding bits between Mammallapuram (also known as Mahabalipuram) and Pondicherry. It might still be called the K9K but the engine actually features some emission control devices from Renault’s other newer engines that make the new-for-2012 K9K a very clean engine, much cleaner than the earlier one.

Aiding this low-emission performance are piezo injectors that provide a more precise spray pattern. In terms of power delivery, the new engine is very linear. At certain points on the ECR, there are unmanned barriers which are supposed to make one check speed but for the majority of  us it was a chance to check out how the Fluence performed through these ‘chicanes’ — one has to say that body roll was quite absent as one ‘negotiated’ these chicanes. It also demonstrated that the front seats of the Fluence do not hold the occupant in place very well through the chicanes.

Verdict
 The Fluence diesel was always a good bargain, but with the new engine and the features, Renault has just stepped up the game. The cars it will be competing against at this price point are actually a bit smaller and not as wide so immediately, the value-for-money factor comes into play. As a mile-munching highway cruiser, it’s just the ticket to ride. When it comes to hard driving, this ain’t no slouch either.

Specsheet:

RENAULT FLUENCE Diesel E4D
Price: Rs15.20 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)
Kitna deti hai: 20.4 kmpl, Arai test
Fuel tank: 60 litres
Tanking-up good for: Over 1,000 km
Engine: 1461cc four-cylinder, turbo-diesel
Power: 110PS
Torque: 240Nm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Dimensions in feet: (LxWxH) 15.15 x 5.94 x 4.88
Boot space: 530 litres